Friday, April 18, 2014

FMQ Project Link Up

It's Friday and time to share what we've been quilting this week. This week I've been working on a new book! I'm not ready to spill the beans completely on this project, but suffice it to say it's going to be BIG with loads of information, pretty photos, and a few fun projects to try out!

When I go into writing mode, I tend to spend a lot more time on the computer than usual, which means my sewing machine is feeling a bit neglected. Rather than fall too deeply into this rut, I'm making an effort to get downstairs and piece or quilt SOMETHING every day.

This week I received samples and some yardage of my Quilt Me! Fabric from Spoonflower and had loads of fun cutting and piecing with it. It's interesting to find the limitations of this fabric - like how the Gridlines are tricky to match:

I didn't even attempt to match the lines here, thinking it would still look okay. After the final seam and press, however, I could literally feel my grandmother's spirit cringing at the sight of the mismatching lines. She was a stickler for matching strips and lines and this would have made her very unhappy!

So back to the drawing board...or rather the cutting table! I found if I filled the corners with little squares instead, matching the lines of the design wouldn't matter a bit:

It's really interesting to play with these fabrics and figure out what works and what doesn't. Because this fabric has such big designs, I think it's going to work best when cut into larger pieces. My third attempt at a block was my favorite - an 8.5 inch square surrounded with 3.5 inch strips and 3.5 inch corner squares.

Working in this free form way was fun, but it wasn't always this way. I used to get really bogged down with my inner negative voice when working like this, mostly if my first attempt at something didn't come out perfect the first time.

These days I try to remain mindful that design is messy and never perfect. It doesn't always work out the first time, and yes, there is waste of fabric and time to figure out what works and what doesn't. It's all part of the process!

So how about you? Do you give yourself a break when you're trying something new, or do you demand perfection with every block and every seam?

It's your turn to share what you've been quilting this week!

Simple rules for the FMQ Project Link Up:

1. Link up with a post that features something you've learned from the Free Motion Quilting Project.
2. Somewhere in your post, please link back here.
3. Comment on at least 2 other links. Share your love of free motion quilting and make this weekly link up a fun way to connect with other quilters around the world!

2 comments:

Your save on the unmatched gridlines is great, and the contrasting corners are much more arresting! Yes, like you, I've learned that some materials have to be 'wasted' (not really a waste at all) in the process of experimentation, and I've come to be much more forgiving of the occasional minor mistake and have learned to move on. The important thing is learning how to avoid making the same mistake again.

A Little Advice from Leah:

Stop stressing about perfection. Perfection does not exist past 25 inches! Actually, make that 5 inches.

Don't be afraid of your tension dial - it was put there for a reason.

Quilt because it makes you happy, not because you need to "finish this damn quilt!"

If you've never quilted before and are waiting for that perfect day when the kids are grown or you're retired, STOP WAITING! Today is the day, now is the time, get off your butt and do it!

Eat, Quilt, Sleep, Repeat.

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